5:2 or 16:8 more effective?

[Marieandme]

I’m hoping to lose about 8lbs over the next couple of months through diet and exercise. Not a lot of time to do it so I’m wondering whether the 5:2 or 16:8 is more effective for faster weight loss? Or can I combine the two by doing 2 days of 500 calories and on the other 5 days still eat within the 8 hour window?

I combine the two.I have only been doing it for 2 weeks though so can't really comment on the weight loss.

I like 16:8 - heard that it’s good to have a bit of a break between eating as your gut microbes has a clean up crew which comes in once your stomach is empty. Feels like I now naturally prefer to start eating around 10/11 and finish around 6/7. Been doing it for quite a while now and also have much better eating habits (better food = less sugar craving and hardly binge eat now) also enjoy making food (learnt to cook! Thanks Hello Fresh). It was a change rather than short period of doing it. 5:2 wouldn’t suit me as would struggle with energy levels and calorie counting.

I do 16:8 every day, have done for years. It helps me maintain weight when I indulge, like over Christmas 😬

When I was really trying to drop weight fast, I kept to a 4 hour eating window (2pm - 6pm) for about a month. It was really difficult not to chew my arm off by 2pm though.

I generally do 16:8 for maintenance but when I want to lose weight I do 20:4. I eat in the evening and go without for the rest of the day.

Read delay don't deny (get it on Amazon). It's what helped me massively. I lost 2 stone fairly quickly to start with. It explains the science behind it

As @cerealchange and @ClarissaParry say, 16:8 is a great maintenance strategy but a lot of people will need a shorter eating window for weight loss.

OMAD sounds scary at first but when you build up gradually and your body gets used to fasting, you might suddenly find it's not so hard after all :)

Delay, Don't Deny is by Gin Stephens - her more recent book is Fast Feast Repeat and is also on Amazon. Absolutely brilliant book.

I know plenty of people choose 5:2 over a daily fast, but I can't bear trying to stick to 500 calories on any day... I'd rather fast for longer each day then eat what I like within a certain time frame, because once I start eating I ain't stopping after 500 cals 😁😁

But really it's personal preference. And you can absolutely combine the two if you want to go that route.

I swear by the ALTERNATE DAY option. I lost .12kg in about eight weeks.

m I basically eat every other day. Mondays Wednesdays Fridays & Sundays.

m I must admit , even though I ought not to , I have teas & coffees when I fast.

i went from a size 14 to a 10 top & a 12 bottom. Dresses are 10/12.